What "Monsters" Can Teach Us About Empathy and Parenting LGBTQ Kids

More Human More Kind: Guidance for Parenting LGBTQ+ Teens & Growing Into a Courageous Ally

What if the monsters you feared growing up were never the real threat but a reflection of the parts of yourself society told you to hide?

For LGBTQ+ youth, and the parents, moms, and advocates walking alongside them, labels like “weird,” “freak,” and “monster” aren’t just childhood fears, they’re often used to dehumanize. In this episode, we explore how queer communities have reclaimed “monstrosity” as a symbol of resilience, and how parents can use that same insight to guide their kids with empathy, education, and fierce love.

• Discover how “monster” stories are rooted in fear of difference and how reclaiming them builds resilience and pride.
• Learn practical ways to shift your parenting from fear-based protection to inclusion-based empowerment.
• Hear how LGBTQ+ communities transform pain into creativity, and how that wisdom can help you raise brave, mentally healthy kids.

Hit play to explore how reclaiming the monster myth can strengthen your parenting, deepen your allyship, and create more safety and love for the communities that need it most.

Hi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here!

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At the heart of my work is a deep commitment to compassion, authenticity, and transformative allyship, especially for those navigating the complexities of parenting LGBTQ+ kids. Through this podcast, speaking, my writing, and the spaces I create, I help people unlearn bias, embrace their full humanity, and foster courageous, compassionate connection.

If you’re in the thick of parenting, allyship, or pioneering a way to lead with love and kindness, I’m here with true, messy, and heart-warming stories, real tools, and grounding support to help you move from fear to fierce, informed action.

Whether you’re listening in, working with me directly, or quietly taking it all in—I see you. And I’m so glad you’re part of this journey.

More Human. More Kind. formerly Just Breathe: Parenting Your LGBTQ Teen is a safe and supportive space where a mom and mental health advocate offers guidance on parenting with empathy, inclusion, love, and open-minded allyship, fostering growth, healing, connection, and empowerment within the LGBTQ community while addressing grief, boundaries, education, diversity, human rights, social justice, and the power of human kindness through a lens of ally support and community engagement.

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